Families That Book Every Year, With the Laliberte Family | Boston Family Photographer

As someone who has been photographing families in Boston for a long time, it’s always a good feeling to see a familiar name pop up in my calendar year after year. When parents trust me to capture special memories and milestones of their kids growing up, it is a huge part of what makes my job so worth it. Watching only children turn into big brothers and sisters, or tiny newborns becoming crazy toddlers, it’s all so special! Every year our shoot gets to be a completely one-of-a-kind experience, and getting to know them through the years helps us document their true personalities.

When it comes to photographing siblings, the Laliberte family has it on point. With three young boys who are FULL of energy, the shoot is never boring, never shy, and always a blast. I feel like every session I get to see them fall more into their roles as big, middle and little brothers who love to taunt and annoy each other, but also play together and cheer each other on.

Every kid has such a unique personality when it comes to family photo sessions, and it blows my mind every time a kid who was once slow to warm up turns into my bestie for the day. With the Laliberte fam I never know what direction the boys will take us for photos, and when I let the kids lead the charge, the photos are always some of the best. Will we be hanging ornaments off the christmas tree, roasting marshmallows, or throwing the football around?? Would it be crazy to do all 3 in one session? Nope! The candid magic starts where the posing ends, and those Laliberte brothers know how it’s done.

Family photos should be an experience we both get to look forward to every year. I get to check in with my awesome client families and see how they’ve grown, and you get to go home with memories to cherish for a lifetime at every age.

What to do when your kids won’t “behave” for their session | Boston Photographer

One of parents’ biggest concerns is that their family won’t cooperate for their session. You want photos of your loving, giggly, happy kid, and your sweet child won’t smile on command like an angel for family photos. Of course not! Your 3 year old runs from the camera, your 5 year old has no idea how to smile naturally, and your moody 7 year old is done with us before we start. Sound familiar? We are here to make this fun and capture your kids’ true personalities, quirks, silly faces and all. If you are having fun, they will have fun, and the giggles will follow.

Here are my top 5 tips for getting the best out of your kids:

1. Get your kids excited for the session and let them know how much fun it will be, but no need to over prepare them or add too much pressure for "best behavior”

2. Kids pick up on your stress, so stay cool, even when they don’t. Meltdowns come and go, we have plenty of time to take a break and reset, no biggie!

3. Bribes work. For older toddlers and school age kids, rewards can be our best friends. Having their favorite (non messy) snack on hand can be a lifesaver. But try not to break it out too early, or they’ll be fixated on it!

4. Go with the flow. I’ll always have an idea of how I want a shot to go, but one thing I’ve learned over the years is that young kids are unpredictable, and the better shot usually comes from allowing them some wiggle room.

5. Above all, if you are having fun with them, they will have fun with you. Be prepared to pull out all the stops with hugs, kisses, tickles, chasing, and their favorite ways to interact with you. You know what brings out the best in your kids, so come prepared to be silly if that’s what does it.

Boston Portrait Photographer | My Favorite Place for Family Photos in May

SPRING. IS. FINALLY. HERE. There are so many beautiful rural places to get great family photos in the springtime, but I think my answer will surprise you. Boston. More specifically, the South End of Boston. Maybe I am biased because this has been my neighborhood for almost 10 years but I just love the way the whole neighborhood transforms when the magnolia and cherry blossom trees blossom.

The other thing about the South End is that it has so many options. You can find old, new, colorful, muted, and don’t even get me started on the incredible doorways. I often use people’s stoops, and of course, as soon as I sit a family down on someone’s stoop, the resident comes walking in or out. Luckily they are usually super friendly about it.

I find myself photographing the South End/Back Bay neighborhoods in the fall because of the rich browns and cobblestone, but those backdrops really make the blossoms and spring colors pop. Don’t get me wrong, I love Boston in the fall for that reason in particular, but if it’s foliage you are looking for, you won’t find much in the South End. No, the blooms in this neighborhood are totally meant for spring.

Almost equally as important a perk as the gorgeous scenery? The outdoor patios. I love when my clients plan on heading to dinner at one of the outdoor patios after our session. Luckily we have a lot of awesome families in the South End, so it usually isn’t a problem finding one that is kid friendly – my favorite is Picco. Best pizza in Boston AND they make their own ice cream. Done.

Boston Portrait Photographer | Victoria and family in the city

Victoria is another one of our Class of 2018 Senior Reps! We were so excited to shoot with her and her family, mostly because we already knew how much fun they were. We photographed her older brother Chris last year in the same location. We always encourage our high school seniors to bring siblings, friends, or Mom on their sessions. Victoria’s senior session was a little different because we also were having a family session with her family at the beginning!

She got to have Mom, Dad, and Chris cracking jokes and making her smile while she posed for her solo shots later on in the shoot. We met the Cataldo family at Boston Common and started with some group shots on the benches to get everyone relaxed. There were lots of laughter and inside jokes being thrown around between the two siblings, which of course made Mom and Dad laugh too.

As we made our way out of the park, and into Back Bay, we stopped to use some of the city's’ unique architecture as our backdrop; the mall, the brownstones, the wrought-iron fences.

As the shoot turned into Victoria’s senior shoot, we started to focus more on Victoria’s passion - dance. We are convinced that one day we will see her as the prima ballerina in one of the world’s most prestigious dance companies.

Boy does she have skill and drive! We don’t normally show our clients photos during the shoot, but for Victoria, it was important to see her form and how it photographed. And the results are stunning!

We ended the shoot on the Charles right as the sun was about to touch the water. People passing by were convinced we were shooting a movie or advertisement, and that Victoria was a celebrity. We can see how they thought so!

Boston Portrait Photographer | Newborn Twins in Back Bay

In their cozy of Back Bay home, we met Shannon, her husband Daryl, and their newborn twins for a truly special photoshoot. The twins had come earlier than planned, and were just 5 lbs each. But as the saying goes, good things come in small packages. We started out the photoshoot in the twins’ nursery that was designed by Shannon.

With a palette of creams, gold, silver, and rose gold, as well as stars and furs scattered throughout the room, the nursery was the embodiment of Shannon’s vision for the photoshoot. The twins were just beginning to nod off as we swaddled the two of them in soft pink and blue wraps.

As we started the shoot, Oscar the cat slunk his way into the room. He sat patiently and watched us as we worked, keeping a watchful eye over his new roommates. Halfway though, Grandma popped in to see how her new grandchildren were doing, and found them fast asleep comfy in the fabric and fur that was their background.

After finishing in the nursery, Shannon, Daryl, the twins, and even Oscar joined us in Mom and Dad’s room. The family piled onto the bed and snuggled close, again surrounded in the pinks and creams that Shannon so thoughtfully decorated with.

The results reflect the warmth and love found in their home. Congratulations Shannon and Daryl on your growing family!

Boston Family Photographer | Chicago Family Visits the East Coast to Create Lasting Memories

One of our favorite places to photograph is the Boston Public Library courtyard. It is a hidden gem in Back Bay, and we had a blast photographing the Tashima Family there. They were all visiting from Chicago and Ohio, and we are so happy they picked Boston for their family photos. They were on a New England vacation together, and Boston was a stop on their way to Bar Harbor, Maine.

No one was safe from these cuties tickles and laughter!

We like to play a game called, “What’s your favorite animal?” which always entails silly animal noises. The kids’ favorite animals were zebras and penguins, leading to neighs, squawking, and chirping. The jury is still out on what a penguin sounds like.

We took a short walk down the street to some of our favorite brownstones and the fun did not stop. From Copley Square to Beacon Street the kids were giggling and smiling the whole way.

Mom and Dad got cozy under a tree and the kids snuggled in. We love capturing these special moments a family has together!

Boston Phographer | Back Bay Watch Co Officially Launches!!!

Back Bay Watch Co lifestyle photo shoot

I am so so excited for the launch of this new Boston brand, Back Bay Watch Co!!! Why? Well partly because I had the honor of doing all the photography, but way more importantly because I BELIEVE in this company. I believe in the product, the integrity, and the proud owner, Mike Lembo. I personally watched Mike pour over every little detail of the watch, making sure the color, quality, and design was PERFECT.  Guys, how often to I dedicate a whole post to a specific brand or product? (answer: almost never). I love these watches. Here’s a bit about the company and quality:

Owned and operated by proud Bostonian, Michael Lembo, Back Bay Watch Company is a collection of Boston centric men’s and women’s watches that capitalize on the classic look and feel of the city.

Inspired by the well-known style of the historic Back Bay, with blocks of brownstones, recognizable gold domes, and cozy neighborhoods, each Back Bay watch is intended to represent the city’s staple features that will never go out of style. Named after the iconic streets of the Back Bay, the watches are perfect for those who share their passion for Beantown.

A watch enthusiast since an early age, Michael grew up in Waltham, MA, coincidentally named “The Watch City” for its long association with the watch industry. Michael designs each watch using elements of the favorites from his own collection. Created using top-notch materials like Japan movement, 316L stainless steel, and genuine leather, Back Bay watches can be dressed down while watching Sunday Night Football, add a touch of class for a business meeting, or be the finishing touch for a night on the town.

Mike, owner, and Karen

I can’t go on and on without mentioning Mike’s incredible girlfriend Karen, who works so hard behind the scenes and specifically on our lifestyle shoot in (where else) Back Bay! I loved this photo shoot for so many reasons (beautiful people don’t hurt), but mostly because these watches are SO Back Bay. They fit so perfectly against the brownstone colors and textures. Below are some of my favorite shots, and of course a few behind the scenes.

Behind the scenes with Karen

Behind the scenes with Mike

Fall style

I can talk talk talk, but we all know actions speak louder than words…  I wear my white pearl Berkeley everyday :)

Please click here to go check out their site that just launched today!

What do you think? Leave it in the comments below...

Boston Photographer | Fashion Editoral Senior Portraits

What a great senior season! For those of you who don’t know, this is just my second year of launching my high school senior portrait sessions. This is not your traditional senior portrait, no, this is a full on modeling experience. They are fashion magazine inspired, styled to fit each individual, and as much about the experience as it is about the end result.

My senior ladies totally ROCKED it this year, and I couldn’t have asked for better models. They stepped it up with fashion, style, and PERSONALITY. Thanks to Robert Jason Salon for their commitment to creating some of these beautiful, natural looks. I’ll let the video below speak for itself, but a huge THANK YOU to you beauties for making my job so much fun. So much love to you all Class of 2016

Thanks for watching! If you like the video, please share with family and friends through email or social media.

Click here for more information on this style of senior portrait sessions

Click here to see the full senior gallery

Click here to send me a question or just to say hello!!

I'm really looking forward to meeting the Class of 2017, make sure you stay connected to receive all the updates and information!

Boston Portrait Photography | Romantic Portraits along Back Bay and the Charles

I received an inquiry from Shohreh who wanted to have a portrait session with her husband, Kayhan to celebrate their 10 year anniversary. They will only be in Boston for a few years and really wanted to capture the beauty and history of the city. I was thrilled about this for a lot of reasons, but my top two are:

1.     How many people have a 10 year anniversary portrait session!? Not nearly enough! They are going to look back at this album another 10 years from now and remember every step of this romantic walk in a city they lived in for a few years of their lives.

2.     I am so consumed by constantly searching for locations, that I often easily forget how amazing my Back Bay/South End neighborhood is for a backdrop. I refuse to move for a reason… I am in LOVE with this neighborhood, the brownstones, the winding streets, the uneven brick sidewalk, and especially the different colored doors and walls.

Shohreh and Kayhan sent me their ideas and clearly explained what they wanted to capture, including closeups, candids, brownstones, cobblestone, nature, city, sun flare, and historical elements. It sounds like a lot to deliver, but knowing what they imagined was amazingly helpful when planning our two mile route through the best parts of Boston’s Back Bay and Beacon Hill.

We walked down Commonwealth Ave and Marlborough Street (an essential Back Bay brownstone walk), stopping on some doorsteps, then cut through the public garden and through some great side streets in Beacon Hill before landing in Acorn Alley for a few shots.

At this point the sun was fading, so we headed over to the Charles River and ducked into the cherry blossom trees just in time to capture (my personal favorite) some gorgeous dreamy images of them snuggling together as the sun set behind them. So sweet.